Dean hits a home run in Montana

[quaoar]

This trip of Dean's to Montana, Idaho and Utah is getting zero attention from the national media, but it is getting big coverage from local media.

http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2005/07/17/build/state/58-dean.inc

Dean wows Dems with speech

By CHARLES S. JOHNSON
Gazette State Bureau

GREAT FALLS - Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean called for national health insurance for all Americans, prompting Montana Democrats to whoop and holler on Saturday night.

< snip >

The crowd of 450 rose en masse to cheer on Dean's call for national health insurance. They yelled so loudly during the speech that Dean said later he should have started his 2004 presidential campaign in Montana instead of Iowa.


< snip >

"We will promise you a balanced budget, and we will get government out of people's lives," Dean said.

"Republicans say that they are a party of small government, just small enough to fit inside Terri Schiavo's bedroom," Dean said. "Republicans say they're in favor of small government, but they don't mind telling women what they can or cannot do with their health care.

[Dr.Phool]

1. His brother Jim did a pretty good job in Florida

Over the Week-end. DFA had a small conference in Orlando Friday and Sat.

[necso]

3. Personally, I would like to hear more from Jim.

The Chairman is, after all, a functionary of the Party -- and this has, ah, certain considerations that go along with it.

[necso]

17. I have to try to remember that

it's good to be rather more specific at times.

What I'm saying is that I would like to see Jim become more of a visible stalking horse for the Chairman's own (populist-progressive -- or whatever) policies.

The Chairmen himself is somewhat constrained. And having a (that is, another) public voice out there that the Party might feel (at sundry times, of course) that they have to respond to, might give the Chairman a little more flexibility to speak -- and to act.

This is one way a movement can work: it can force a party to respond to it -- and this can drag the party towards the positions of the movement. And if one thinks about it, there are other fairly obvious potential benefits in this particular case.

Of course, there are also certain difficulties with this. And spelling everything out publicly (and arguing about it in detail) is often a poor option. (There's little sense in showing your hand.)

But none of this is rocket science. Indeed, generally it's simple, you just have to put aside the person (oneself) -- and think "what if".

Oh, and obviously the Chairman would have to maintain some distance.

...

I hope that this works. (Think like you are him.)

http://www.pymmik.com.nyud.net:8090/oda-nobunaga2.jpg

[madfloridian]

6. Jim is a doggone nice guy. Pic from Orlando.

I snipped part of the picture, but Jim looks so casual here. He's a cutie. This was Friday night. Hubby said he did not have to wear that long-sleeved shirt after all as Jim was so casual. Our DFA leader here went Saturday, and I printed off 3 pages of her report.

I think there was a similar session in Tampa not long ago, or was that a training session? When Jim goes to South Florida, bet he gets a good reception.

[IndyOp]

2. These 'talking points' are good - really good!

He suggested President Bush and Republicans have abandoned their traditional values of small government, sound fiscal management and moral leadership. Democrats have seized these issues, he said.

<snip>

"Republicans say that they are a party of small government, just small enough to fit inside Terri Schiavo's bedroom," Dean said. "Republicans say they're in favor of small government, but they don't mind telling women what they can or cannot do with their health care.

<snip>

"Only Democrats balance the budget," Dean said. "You cannot trust Republicans with your taxpayer money. Borrow and spend. Borrow and waste. That's what the Republican Party stands for. We will do better."

<snip>

"You know why I think we're going to win in the Rocky Mountain West?" he asked. "Because Republicans have forgotten who they are, and we've remembered all of a sudden who we are."

[autorank]

4. Swietzer Country, all right! Thanks for this information.

The West is the Best, as Jim Morrision said. We may have a red meat eating, gun owing liberal populist from Montana on our ticket next time. Personally, I'd like to see a Clark-Sweitzer ticket. Really kick ass.

Thanks for the update.

A comprehensive explanation of fraud--text and key links

[Johnyawl]

7. That would be a good thing!

We may have a red meat eating, gun owning liberal populist...on our ticket

...Since there's a hell of a lot of red meat eating, gun owning populists in this country right now voting for repugs, or not voting at all.

The more I read about Sweitzer, the more I like him. And I've always liked Wes.

[mrgorth]

8. Agreed.

I've heard good things about him.

[leyton]

5. National media coverage is not important here.

The national media has picked up the Rove story, which is good. The purpose of Dean's visits to Montana and other western states is to rally the troops and show swing voters there that the Democratic party does care about them. As long as the local media picks up the story, Dean's purpose is served.

[UrbScotty]

10. Good points (nt)

[quaoar]

16. He got a lot of press in Idaho, too

And it was actually positive.

[lojasmo]

9. Woot! Howard Dean RAWKS! EOM

[Tommymac]

11. In Pittsburgh Tomorrow 7-19 and

I'll BE THERE!

:applause: :woohoo: :bounce: :kick:

[bobbieinok]

12. nver forget...same way natnl media treated K-E in 2004--no one knew what K

K-E stood for

and Kerry gets blamed for not having a clear message.....in reality: national media never reported it

[firefox]

13. The man is singing my song

Rock on, Dr. Dean.

[calimary]

14. Mine, too. Sigh...

Howard Dean speaks for ME.

Might be a good idea to remind your reps of that when you call them on some issue. Make that one of your two closing lines, along with "Visualize IMPEACHMENT. Pass it on..."

[bigwillq]

15. I'm glad Dean is out promoting

National Health Insurance. That's one of the issues that made me a Dean supporter years ago!

Way to go, Dr. Dean!:bounce: